king of babylon

[margy1892]

who was king of baylon before it's capture by cyrus in 539bc

[dot.hawkes]

nabonidus

[cook1254]

sorry dot but I have it as Belshazzar.

[jno]

you're both right. Nabonidus was king but devoted himself to religion, making his son Belshazzar co-ruler. When Cyrus approached, Nabonidus led troops to fight him, and Belshazzar stayed behind to defend the city. Nobinidus was defeated and fled; Cyrus then took the city of Babylon.

Rembrandt painted Belshazzar's Feast

[Homer55]

where was babylon?

[jno]

in modern-day Iraq

[margy1892]

thanks ,folks.

[maxximus]

where does nimrod come in

[pugwashjw]

The taking of Babylon by Cyrus was prophecied in the Bible and Cyrus was actually named. Conquest of Babylon. Cyrus now girded for a confrontation with mighty Babylon, and from this point forward, in particular, he figured in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. In Isaiah�s inspired restoration prophecy concerning Jerusalem and its temple, this Persian ruler had been named as the one appointed by Jehovah God to effect the overthrow of Babylon and the release of the Jews who would be exiled there. (Isa 44:26�45:7) Although this prophecy had been recorded well over one and a half centuries before Cyrus� rise to power and though the desolation of Judah evidently took place before Cyrus was even born, still Jehovah declared that Cyrus would act as His �shepherd� on behalf of the Jewish people. (Isa 44:28; compare Ro 4:17.) By virtue of this advance appointment, Cyrus was called Jehovah�s �anointed one� (a form of the Hebrew ma�shi�ach, messiah, and the Greek khri�stos�, christ). (Isa 45:1) God�s �calling him by his name� (Isa 45:4) at that early date does not imply that He gave Cyrus his name at birth, but means that Jehovah foreknew that such a man by that name would arise and that Jehovah�s call to him would be, not anonymous, but direct, specific, by name.

Thus, unknown to King Cyrus, who was likely a pagan devotee of Zoroastrianism, Jehovah God had been figuratively �taking Cyrus� right hand� to lead or strengthen him, girding him and preparing and smoothing the way for his accomplishing the divine purpose: the conquest of Babylon. (Isa 45:1, 2, 5) As the One �telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done,�